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"The Rounds" Monday, August
19, 2002
Mekhong Kurt * * * * * * * * * * Painting Exhibition An
Original Oil Painting By Our Popular Richard K. Diran Saturday,
September 7, 2002 The talented Richard K. Diran, painter, author, photographer, gemologist, and adventurer extraordinaire has turned his attention back to one of his first occupations, painting in oils. Already frenziedly working on the 2nd of an intended 7 paintings, one representing each day of the week, the first is ready for its public debut. Richard began painting in oils when he was just 13 under the Italian master Carmello de Simon. He later wanted to continue studying painting in a formal setting, so submitted examples of his youthful work to the then-new California Institute of Art for review, to which he won a full scholarship; the institute's first president was Roy Disney, brother of the world-famous Walt Disney. Richard graduated in the institute's first graduating class in 1972. The unusual vision we see in Richard's philosophical essays is in abundant evidence in this first in the series. Richard spoke of it in this way: "It has a little something to offend just about everybody!" That's rather too harsh, in my view, but it is true there is something in the painting to interest and intrigue any viewer. Richard will be on hand with 8" X 10" photographs of the painting which he will autograph, if requested. Of course, he will be happy to discuss his original work of art with you. We have a tentative plan to have a second showing, but that's far from certain to come off, so be sure to drop by and have your imagination stirred by this stunning work. * * * * * * * * * * Here we are in the midst of the slowest time of the year, and various saloon-keepers tell me it's really showing up in the form of empty seats and shrunken bottom lines. There's apprehension that September will be no better, the concern being that with many media stories planned in memory of the dead and wounded from last year's 911 terrorist attacks in the United States that some potential travelers will be concerned about personal safety to the point of opting not to travel. * * * * * * * * * * While the requirements and procedures aren't entirely clear to me, one now can apply for a 1-year retirement visa at age 50 instead of having to wait until reaching 55 years old. As I understand it from 2 immigration police officers and from another American who got his retirement visa about 2 years ago (he was already well beyond 55), the other requirements haven't changed. The immigration policemen both told me first that one must put 800,000 baht in a bank located in Thailand, though one later said he checked further -- he doesn't work in that office -- and what he told me was in line with my American acquaintance's experience. The American retiree had about 80,000 baht in a Thai bank account, but took copies of 8-10 ATM receipts showing withdrawals from his U.S. bank account, where his retirement pension is automatically deposited, withdrawals made from Thai banks' ATM's. Those, along with the required certification document issued by one's embassy, did the trick for him. One does have to have a type "O" non-immigrant visa to start the process, meaning if one is here on a tourist visa, then an exit from the Kingdom to another country to get such a visa from a Thai embassy or consulate is necessary before filing an application for a retirement visa. I plan to try this myself -- not because I don't enjoy the occasional trips around the region visa runs require me to make, but because those trips aren't always convenient when they're required; having a 1-year visa will let me decide for myself when I'll take a break from The Big Mango. I'll report on my own experience later. * * * * * * * * * * Continuing kudos to the Immigration Bureau here in Bangkok for service that is almost unbelievably better now than when I first arrived 8 years ago. I went there 2 days ago to get a visa extension, which went very smoothly and quickly, and to ask about requirements for a retirement visa. The gentlemen I asked told me the requirements and what to do. As I was gathering up my briefcase and hat to leave, he called out to me, motioning me to come over. He wanted to tell me he had just remembered a second possibility, which he then explained to me. While I don't yet know just what is correct, I do appreciate that he took the time to explain the two possibilities to me, especially the second, since I had already left the counter and he had to summon me back to tell me about it. * * * * * * * * * * Don't forget that I've added a place for you to sign up to be notified via e-mail whenever we add something to the site -- that way, you don't even have to visit the Updates Page to see if there's anything new -- we'll let you know by e-mail. If you want to sign up, just go to the sign-up page. * * * * * * * * * * Moonshine Bar in Queen's Park Plaza on Sumkhumvit Soi 22 is having a pool tournament this coming Saturday (August 24th) beginning at 4:00 P.M. While there will be 2 prizes, their amounts will depend on how many players enter the competition. It will be a double-elimination tournament. Ott, the owner, plans to offer a special of some sort, a barbecue, but has not decided exactly what it will be. Remember that the start falls in Happy Hour. Drop on on and take YOUR shot at the prizes -- you could end up winning funding for your Saturday-night festivities! * * * * * * * * * * Disgruntlement with Thonglor Police over bar closings within the Thonglor Police District for Her Majesty the Queen's birthday last Monday is deep among affected bar owners with whom I've talked. And it's hard to fault the owners, especially since the latest closing was the 3rd in well under a month -- meaning 10% of their time was lost. I've long felt that unless the affected bar owners band together and negotiate with the folks at the Thonglor Police District Headquarters they stand no chance of relief, but some of the bar owners hold the point of view that it would be foolish of them to do anything that might help a competitor. But that's short-sighted, in my opinion. Some will remember the Street Fair the Soi Cowboy bar owners put on a few years back, a 3-day event spanning an entire weekend, the second day coincidentally being His Majesty the King's birthday. Despite a serious glitch the second day, overall the fair was a bounding success, and showed common effort can bring about common good. * * * * * * * * * * As regular visitors among you already know, "The Doc" and I actually have 2 websites -- this one (which I run), and the one "The Doc" runs, http://Dean-Barrett-Thailand.com. While that site is adult-themed to a degree, "The Doc" has established links to tons of G-rated materials in the form of streaming audio files, including humor, NPR broadcasts ("NPR" is the U.S.'s National Public Radio), readings of public-domain literature, etc. I will begin to add such materials here, in an effort to provide an entertainment source for people cruising the Web, especially for English speakers living in countries offering little or nothing in the way of English radio. Sure, there is always short-wave, but the sound quality and signal reliability are significantly limiting factors. If you think of a type of Internet radio broadcast you would like to hear, please drop me a line at MekhongKurt@BangkokAtoZ.com. * * * * * * * * * * If anyone reading this has a website and would like to place a link there for BangkokAtoZ.com, you can just copy-and-paste the banner below into your site; it's a live link to this site's homepage --
-- or, if you prefer a simple text link, use this hyperlink: BangkokAtoZ.com. I'll appreciate an e-mail telling me the URL of where you placed it. If you want me to put a link on BangkokAtoZ.com for your site, do tell me where you have placed our link, and I'll give you a link in a comparable position, of the same nature (i.e., banner-for-banner, text-for-text). * * * * * * * * * * A resident foreign friend was entertaining an American visitor a few nights ago when they decided to cross from Clinton Plaza to Sukhumvit Plaza, a place I haven't visited in quite a long while. They report there is in the neighborhood of 2 dozen bars scattered about the place, some of them appearing quite nice. I'll be checking that out when I can. [Read: "when I get off my lazy duff and DO it!!!"] * * * * * * * * * * The bar I mentioned that's up for sale remains unsold; direct any serious enquiries to me at MekhongKurt@BangkokAtoZ.com. It's worth adding that the landlord of the venue is finally doing something to actually promote it, so this could be an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in going into a nice enclosed, air-conditioned bar-restaurant. Drop me a line. * * * * * * * * * * Earlier I mentioned having gone to the Immigration Bureau this past Saturday; my route back brought me into Sukhumvit Soi 22 via the south end of Sukhumvit Soi 24 and Rama IV Road. I was intrigued to see a venue going up inside the southern reaches of Soi 22 on the east side of the road, but haven't been to check it out [either!] yet. * * * * * * * * * * What used to be an open-air Thai restaurant on the street side of Queen's Park Plaza has been closed some time now, undergoing extensive renovation. I don't know the owners so really have no idea what kind of place it will be, but it has been completely made over and appears near completion, with the name "The Maxx" written in large letters on the front. The exterior is bright yellow with darkish blue trim, making the building really stand out. The front and one side are largely glass, so one will be able to watch life's parade pass by -- I presume the place will be a bar, maybe a restaurant-bar. * * * * * * * * * * Until next time -- Mekhong Kurt
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Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 by Kurt T. Francis, except as noted otherwise. Materials by Christopher G. Moore, Dean Barrett, Richard K. Diran, Sonia Pressman Fuentes, and Hardy Stockmann are copyrighted © by those respective authors. All rights reserved. Please see the Copyright Notice for further information. Click here for our Privacy Statement Please direct all inquiries to mekhongkurt at bangkokatoz.com |
